1 My father never once attended my parent-teacher conferences. Today, he made an unprecedented appearance. Before I could even crack a smile of relief, he walked right past my desk and took the seat next to Rana. Just like how he chose his mistress all those years ago, he was now choosing her illegitimate daughter. Mocking laughter rippled from Rana’s little clique of friends. They giggled behind their hands, whispering about how I was unloved, a tragic little orphan. I ignored them, calmly settling back into my chair. I had originally planned to tell him the big news today. Both my paternal grandfather and my mother’s father had officially decided I would inherit the family empire. Looking at him now, I realized it was completely unnecessary. Rana noticed me standing stiffly in the aisle and flashed a venomous, triumphant smirk. “Daddy, you even canceled your board meetings to be here. I told you it was fine,” she whined, leaning her head affectionately against his shoulder. My father rubbed her hair, his eyes melting with a warmth I had never received. “I’d never miss a day for my little troublemaker.” They whispered intimately to each other. Every word they exchanged felt like a needle driving into my chest. My mother died young, and my father never showed up for me. He always had a million excuses, constantly pawning the responsibility off onto random corporate executives to sit in my classroom. This term, I ranked first in the entire grade. I had practically buzzed with excitement when I asked if he could finally come to my conference. He had merely cast a cold glance in my direction. No praise. No smile. He just muttered that he would check his schedule and walked out the door. He had never praised me, let alone stroked my hair with such tender affection. “Serena, your parents didn’t show up again? I told everyone you were basically an orphan, but you just wouldn’t admit it.” “Right? Last time she acted so tough, I really thought someone might actually show up for her today.” Two nosy girls in the front row turned around, grinning maliciously at me before bursting into loud, obnoxious laughter. Through it all, my father did not lift his head once. It was as if I were a complete stranger. I let out a cold, sharp laugh, locking eyes with the two giggling girls. “Some people have parents but act like they were raised in a barn. They still have zero class. Even if my seat is empty today, I am still number one in the school.” The moment the words left my mouth, the color drained from their faces. The surrounding parents, hearing that I was the top student, turned their heads to look at me, their eyes filled with pity that such a brilliant girl lacked a loving family. I did not offer any further explanation, but my father’s expression darkened considerably. Seeing the tension, the homeroom teacher immediately stepped up to the podium. She began showering Rana with exaggerated praise, while subtly shading me. She hinted that my personality was gloomy and that aside from my grades, I was utterly useless and nowhere near as charming as Rana. “Exactly. You should all play with children from loving, happy families like Rana. Serena looks so depressing. Don’t let her drag your mood down,” the teacher added, clearly kissing up to my father. I could not stop the cynical smirk forming on my lips. This teacher had been flattering Rana for months. Now, she was actively targeting me just to humiliate me in front of the entire room. Everyone in this school firmly believed my grandfather would hand the corporate empire over to my father. In their eyes, I was just the unloved, discarded daughter destined to be thrown out. Even my father believed that delusion. I let out another quiet scoff, ignoring the smug expressions plastered across Rana and my father’s faces. The moment the conference ended, our family butler, Bernard, was already waiting at the school gates in my grandfather’s custom luxury sedan. Seeing me walk out, he gave a respectful nod. My father, however, assumed Bernard was there to pick him and his precious daughter up. He genuinely thought my grandfather had finally accepted his mistress and her child. His face flushed with absolute delight as he grabbed Rana’s hand and practically dragged her toward the vehicle. “Rana’s dad is so rich. She is totally going to be a billionaire heiress. I am so jealous.” Envious gazes followed them. Rana was already arrogant enough at school, and this would only inflate her ego to unbearable heights. Bernard looked completely bewildered as my father and Rana approached the car. He glanced past them, locking eyes with me. I gave him a subtle nod, signaling him to just let it happen. Let them put on a show. They would not have the chance to perform for much longer anyway. Surrounded by fawning classmates and parents, they climbed into the luxury car. Pictures of them were plastered all over the local social media pages that very afternoon. I did not bother explaining the truth to anyone. A discarded heir like my father was not worth my breath. People just loved a good circus act. But when I returned home that evening, the circus had followed me. Rana’s mother, Vanessa, was standing right in the middle of our living room. I furrowed my brows, swallowing the rising bile in my throat. “Who gave you permission to step foot in here?” It seemed Bernard’s silence earlier that afternoon had given my father the ultimate delusion. He truly believed he could finally parade his kept woman into the main estate. Looking at her face, all I could see was the day my mother died. As my mother took her final, agonizing breaths, my father was busy strolling through an amusement park with this exact woman. My mother waited for him. She waited until the monitor flatlined, her eyes refusing to close even in death. He did not even bother showing up on the day we buried her. And today was the anniversary of my mother’s death. How dare he. How dare he let them walk through these doors today of all days. Vanessa was pointing fingers all over the house, complaining about the decor, criticizing the architecture. Then, she reached for the large portrait of my mother hanging in the hall, demanding it be taken down. I surged forward and snatched the frame right out of her hands. Vanessa jumped in fright, letting out a shrill shriek as she nearly tripped over her own heels. Seeing it was me, her face contorted in rage. “You stupid brat, are you trying to kill me?” She screamed with the furious entitlement of a woman who already believed she was the lady of the house. The sight of her made my stomach turn. “Who gave you permission to touch my mother’s portrait?” Our shouting match echoed through the grand foyer. Suddenly, the heavy front doors clicked open. My father’s voice boomed from behind me. Hearing him, Vanessa’s eyes instantly welled with crocodile tears. She ran to his side, sobbing that I was bullying her. “She was trying to throw away my mother’s picture! And today is the anniversary of my mother’s…” Death. Before the word could even leave my lips, a sharp sting exploded across my cheek. The force of my father’s slap snapped my head to the side, swallowing whatever I was about to say. The metallic tang of blood pooled in my throat. My cheek burned with a blinding pain. “Vanessa is your new mother now. Watch your mouth. It is just a worthless painting anyway. If she wants to burn it, let her burn it.” His face was black with fury. For a second, I could not tell what hurt more, my stinging cheek or my shattering heart. Thinking back to how I actually held onto a tiny shred of hope for this man earlier today made me feel utterly pathetic. Hearing the commotion, Bernard rushed into the hall. Seeing the red welt forming on my face, he gasped in horror and immediately reached for his phone to call the family doctor, but my father violently shoved his hand away. “Mind your own business. I am disciplining my own daughter. Since when is it a servant’s place to interfere?” my father snarled. “The old man is announcing my succession soon. You all better watch your backs when I am in charge.” Bernard’s eyebrow twitched at the sheer stupidity of the man. He did not even deem it necessary to waste words on him. I let out a cold, sharp laugh, holding up a hand to stop Bernard from explaining the reality to them. “Bernard, my father is absolutely right. We really need to make sure Aunt Vanessa gets a grand, spectacular welcome into the family.” Bernard instantly caught my drift. He lowered his head respectfully and remained silent. Taking my words as submission, my father and Vanessa exchanged a look of supreme, arrogant triumph. They looked absolutely thrilled by my sudden compliance. Rana tilted her chin so high it practically pointed at the ceiling. “Miss, the charity gala in the front courtyard is about to begin. The master asked me to invite…” Martha, one of the senior maids, walked into the hall. She froze mid-sentence, startled by the crowd. Hearing the word “Miss,” Rana’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. She completely assumed the maid was referring to her. Giddy with excitement, she hooked her arms through my father and her mother’s, dragging them toward the banquet hall. “Grandpa definitely accepts us now.” My father smiled so wide his eyes crinkled into slits. He strutted proudly toward the gala, a woman on each arm. I gave Martha a reassuring nod, signaling her to drop it. She bowed slightly and stepped back into the shadows. Tonight was an exclusive charity gala hosted by my paternal grandfather. My mother’s father was also in attendance. They had both agreed to let me host the event tonight. They invited the city’s most elite circles specifically to introduce me as the new, official heir to the empire. I slipped into the banquet hall early through a side door. The room was already packed. Whispers floated through the air, all gossiping about how highly my grandfather thought of me, and how my maternal grandfather flew in specifically to back my claim. “Thank you all for waiting.” A loud, overly confident male voice suddenly boomed through the elegant hall. Everyone turned their heads toward the grand mahogany doors. My father strutted in, his face glowing with arrogance. He had Vanessa on one side and Rana on the other. It was a charity gala dedicated to wildlife preservation, yet they had actually shown up draped in extravagant, dyed animal furs. Disgust flashed across the faces of the elite guests. My father was completely oblivious to the silent judgment. He marched straight up to the VIP table where my grandfathers sat. My mother’s father instantly turned purple with rage. I had to quickly lean in and whisper calming words into his ear for five whole minutes to stop him from flipping the table. He restrained himself, but his eyes promised total destruction later. We remained seated at the head table. None of us made a single move to offer them a chair. My father’s smile faltered slightly. He shot me a harsh glare, gesturing with his chin for me to give up my seat. I smiled sweetly. I did not move an inch. Instead, I raised my voice so the entire ballroom could hear. “Everyone, allow me to introduce my father’s one true love, Vanessa. And this is their precious daughter, Rana, who just happens to be the exact same age as me.” A collective gasp echoed through the room. The realization clicked instantly. This was the infamous mistress and the illegitimate child born out of wedlock. The atmosphere turned incredibly awkward, but Vanessa was far too blinded by the sparkling chandeliers and the scent of old money to notice. She had never been allowed in a room like this before. The moment I finished my introduction, she grabbed a champagne flute and began parading around the room, trying to clink glasses with billionaires, putting on the pathetic airs of a grand matriarch. The guests offered tight, polite smiles, though their eyes dripped with absolute disdain. They practically shrank away from her touch. My father had spent so many years rotting away with these two women that he had lost all sense of social awareness. He loudly announced to the room that he was going to throw a massive, official wedding to make things right. “That is wonderful, Daddy. I will definitely be there,” I laughed loudly, forcing down the bitter tears burning the back of my eyes. I felt so incredibly sorry for my mother. He wanted face? He wanted prestige? Fine. I would make sure he never had a shred of dignity left in this city. “Just having us there isn’t enough, right? We have to invite all my classmates. We need the press. The local country club is far too cheap for Aunt Vanessa. Let’s host the wedding at The Grand Astoria.” I smiled. The surrounding executives and socialites instantly caught the dangerous glint in my eye. They immediately began chiming in, hyping the idea up. My father’s face flushed crimson with absolute euphoria. He felt like a king holding court. He truly believed his ascension to the throne was imminent. “Are they really throwing a wedding? Do we have to go?” someone whispered from the crowd behind me. I threw a brief sideways glance. The man immediately shut his mouth. His wife elbowed him hard in the ribs, scowling in irritation. “Are you an idiot? This is obviously the young heiress setting a trap to humiliate the mistress. If you actually show up, you are officially declaring war on the entire family.” I smiled, turning my attention back to the three fools soaking in the fake applause. I could not wait for the wedding day. Over the next few weeks, Rana bragged to anyone with ears. She proudly announced her parents were getting married at The Grand Astoria and invited practically the entire school, including the teachers. Hearing the venue name, everyone gasped in awe. It was the most exclusive, hyper-expensive venue in the city. Money alone could not buy a reservation there, you needed supreme status. “Serena, you absolutely have to come,” Rana said, blocking my path in the hallway with a sickeningly sweet smile. She fully expected me to break down in tears. My mother had only been given a quiet, rushed ceremony back in the day, yet her mother was getting the wedding of the century at the most prestigious venue in the country. “Oh, I will definitely be there. After all, he is my father,” I replied with a bright smile. Rana’s smug expression froze. She let out an annoyed huff and stomped away. Her little minions stayed behind to block my path, sneering that the moment I was kicked out of the family, I would not even be fit to wipe Rana’s shoes. “Well then, I pray she legally changes her last name soon,” I shrugged nonchalantly. Some of my former friends actually believed the rumors that I was being disowned. They quickly switched sides, flocking to Rana, desperate for a crumb of her promised wealth. Rana basked in my isolation. She loudly promised to buy her loyal followers new laptops, designer phones, and even swore to take the whole class on a luxury vacation to Australia. Everyone except me, of course. Listening to their excited shrieks, I just mentally scoffed at the pack of idiots and walked back to my classroom to study. Egged on by Vanessa, my father invited every major media outlet in the city. He wanted the world to witness her becoming the official lady of the empire. It was hilarious. I eagerly counted down the days, practically salivating at the thought of watching them make total fools of themselves. My father loved his pride more than life itself, yet he was so incredibly shameless. I even sarcastically suggested he double the guest list. He missed the sarcasm entirely, looking at me with genuine paternal affection. He even reached out to stroke my hair. “If you stay this obedient, I might actually leave a small apartment in your name when I take over.” I dodged his hand, my skin crawling with disgust. The fatherly affection I had craved my entire childhood was finally being offered, and it only made me want to vomit. His hand hovered awkwardly in the air. He sighed and walked away. On the day of the wedding, I arrived at the venue early. Vanessa and Rana were decked out in offensively expensive, custom-tailored gowns. Seeing me walk in wearing my standard school uniform, they sneered in disgust. “What an absolute embarrassment. I really do not want to admit we are related to her,” Vanessa scoffed. I smiled, staying silent. They would not have the privilege of claiming relation to me anyway. My classmates arrived shortly after in a loud, chaotic herd. They took their seats, looking around the opulent ballroom with wide, greedy eyes, drawing irritated glances from the polished journalists setting up their cameras. “Rana, you promised us the new phones and laptops today, right?” the class president asked eagerly. Rana nodded dismissively, looking at her peers like they were peasants. But as the hours ticked by, no one else walked through the doors. It was nearing one in the afternoon. Stomachs were rumbling. And still, not a single elite guest had shown their face. “What is going on? Didn’t you say the CEO of the Sterling Group and the Vanguard Bank were coming?” Vanessa snapped, losing her patience. My father was sweating profusely. He could not get ahold of a single executive. Truth be told, he did not even have their personal phone numbers. He frantically dialed my grandfather’s number, only to find the phone turned off. A cold dread finally began to pool in his stomach. “Excuse me, everyone. We have a scheduled wedding event about to begin in this hall. If you wish to dine, please relocate to the public lobby.” The general manager of The Grand Astoria marched in with a squad of security guards, clearly intending to sweep the room. The crowd erupted into chaos. They had no reservation here at all. “What nonsense are you spewing?” my father roared, his face burning red with humiliation as the journalists aimed their lenses right at him. Desperate to save face, he whipped out his premium black card and slammed it into the manager’s chest. The manager swiped it on a portable terminal. It declined. The account was completely frozen. Just then, Bernard strolled gracefully into the chaotic ballroom. My father lunged toward him like a drowning man spotting a lifeboat. He demanded to know where the VIP guests were. Bernard did not even look at him. He walked straight past the frantic man and bowed deeply to me. “Miss, the Master requests your presence at the executive board meeting immediately.” My father exploded. He screamed that he was the true heir, demanding to know why he was being ignored. But a second later, the horrifying reality finally crashed down on him. The blood drained from his face entirely. He slowly turned his head to stare at me. “It was you.”
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